RobL's world of wonder

So whats this Echolink thing all about then…?

To say I was sceptical about Echolink (which involves voice communication beween radio amateurs via the internet) may be understating it.  To me amateur radio was about just that…, the use of radio communications and if we want to talk to people over the internet we can just use Yahoo right?  Well maybe but having actually taken the plunge and given it a try it is so much more.
 
For starters it can only be used by licensed radio amateurs and for those amateurs who for whatever reason can not maintain their amateur radio station for reasons of old age, ill health or simply where they live it is clearly a good thing to be able to keep in touch, not only with friends but also to make new friends.
 
Now I will not profess to be anything like an expert, as with all things ‘you never stop learning’ and there is plenty to learn with this particular area of communication.  The reason for this diatribe if that is the correct term is just to provide comment on experiences so far and for those who have not tried it yet to provide a (very) basic introduction.
 
Essentials will include a computer with speakers and a microphone (sounds obvious but you never know!) and an internet connection, allegedly a dial up connection will work but broadband will work better.  It is easy to connect and join to Echolink via www.echolink.org, involves downloading some software, nothing too substantial however and providing proof of your amateur status (emailing a scanned copy of your license with callsign clearly visible and legible is adequate).
 
Once that has all been verified, you are connected and ‘on the air’, so to speak.  The Echolink system works either directly station to station, menu’s allow you to navigate through callsign listings according to country, (and I mean all countries!!) showing who is on line whilst you are connected or alternatively via nodes (a subject for another day!) and even Echolink enabled repeaters (such as GB3IE, GB3NC and GB3SW).  The entertaining thing you will soon discover is that repeaters such as these can obviously be accessed by radio as well as via the internet so you never know who may pop up!!  I was sat in the car in Falmouth recently tuned to GB3NC on 2 metres when there was a CQ from an American station in upstate New York!!  He was trying via Echolink to get hold of someone in of all places Dobwalls (hmm, wonder who that could be)!!!  Sometimes it’s a little more arbitrary, amateurs generally are inquisitive souls and people will just link in and call CQ because they’ve heard of the area!!!